Combination step-ladder and ironing board



1935' M. E. SCOTT El AL 2,010,327

COMBINATION STEPLADDER AND IRONING BOARD Filed Oct. 11, 1935 A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED,

PATENT OFF-ICE CARD 2 Martin E. Scott and Joseph Bradley, Kansas City;Mo.j

Application October 11; 1933, Serial No. 693,104 2 Claims. (01. 22 8-4) The present invention relates to combination step-ladder and ironing board appliances; and aims to provide anovel combination of this type which is of a collapsible or knock-down charac- 5 ter, and adapted to be easily and conveniently converted into either the form of a step-ladder,

or that of an ironing board, as may be desired.

Accordingly, the invention provides a knockdown construction in which two of the members are adapted to be assembled in the form of an upright step-ladder, or conveniently converted into the form of a supporting structure, to which the ironing board member may be applied into position for locking the supporting members in place, whereby the board is then carried in proper horizontal position for use as an ironing board.

It is also sought to provide a contruction which is of comparatively simple and yet efiicient form, adapted to be cheaply manufactured in an economical manner, in addition to which a strong and durable construction is provided, safe in all its forms and uses, and unlikely to readily get out of order.

25 With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a suitable embodiment of construction for embodying the present improvements after which those fea- 30 tures and combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a combination of parts comprising the present 35 invention, in knocked-down relation;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the parts comprising the step-ladder assembled for use as such;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the parts assembled for use as an ironing board.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates one of the step-ladder members as 45 comprising a pair of side rail membersv H) of duplicate form, and connected in parallel relation by a plurality of transverse steps l2 as well as by a cross bar l4 connecting the widened portions I of the side rails, and a top step l slidingly pivoted at IT and Il to brackets I6 to the upper ends of the rails. These rail members Ill are designed to cooperate with another step-ladder member comprising a pair of side rails l8 connected at their opposite ends by the transverse members 2|] and 2|, the member 2| being designed to form one of the steps ,of the ladder when assembled .as shown in Figures 2 to 4. When as sembled for this purpose the' step I5 is swung into horizontal position determined by cut-out bevels I5 at the top of the rails l0, and the end of one of the side rails 18 is received within a pocket formation formed by means of suitable cleats 19 or the like on the inside face of one of the side rails ID, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. The side rails l8 are further provided with longitudinal slots 22 in sliding engagement with the cross bar [4, for permitting the adjustment of the step-ladder parts into their different positions, and when assembled as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, a suitable latch member 23, pivoted at 24 to one of the rails I0, is engaged with the cross bar l4, thereby holding the upper end of one of the rails 18 seated in said pocket formed by the cleats l9.

When the parts are to be assembled for the support of an ironing board member 25 (see Figures 1 and 5), the step member [5 is swung out of horizontal position, the latch member 23 disengaged from the cross bar l4, and the rails l8 pulled out of engagement with the pocket cleats I9 to bring the bar I to the opposite end of the slot 22, whereupon the rails l8 are swung outward to bring the upper ends thereof into position for operating them slidingly between two pairs of guide cleats 2B and 21 which are secured to the inner faces of the rails In, this sliding movement continuing until the opposite end of the slot 22 is engaged with the cross bar I4, and secured in this relation by means of a latch element pivoted at 3| to one of said rails I8.

When the step-ladder parts are latched in this relation, they form a support as shown in Figure 5, the rails l0 extending at an opposite angle to the vertical as compared to their former position shown in Figure 4, whereas the rails I8 are completely reversed, both as to angle and also their endwise position, to their former position. The step-ladder parts thus form an X-support with their upper ends correspondingly cut or beveled to provide a suitable horizontal rest for carrying the ironing board member 25, the under face of which has secured thereto suitable cross cleats 34 and 35 having their inner faces beveled for mortising engagement with the inclined edges of the upper ends of the rails l0 and I8 by being slipped crosswise over the upper ends thereof. Thus the ironing board is firmly supported in horizontal position, and not only is held securely in place, but the means of attachment shown provides a method of cooperating with the connections between the step-ladder members for efiectively locking the latter in the supporting relation illustrated in Figure 5.

It is thus apparent that a simple, conveniently operated and inexpensive construction is provided for affording a combination step-ladder and ironing board construction and which may be readily converted into either of its forms, as above explained. It may be further observed that the construction is not only a practical and efiicient one, suitable for the use of adults, but is of such a simple and inexpensive construction as to be readily adapted for manufacture and use as an attractive toy suitable for the entertainment of small children.

While we have shown and illustrated what we now regard as the preferred form of embodiment of the invention for practical use, we desire to be understood as reserving the right to make Whatever changes or modifications may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

1. A collapsible step-ladder construction comprising a pair of supporting members provided with a series of steps carried in intervening relation partly by one and partly by the other of said members, a sliding pivotal connection between said members permitting them to be assembled in parallel relation or secured together at an angle to each other, and means providing a pocket formation on one of said members for locking engagement with the upper portion of the other member when assembled in upright relation.

2. A collapsible step-ladder construction COl'llprising a pair of supporting members provided with a plurality of steps, a sliding pivotal connection between said members permitting them to be assembled either in inverted-V or step-ladder relation or in X-relation with one of said members in reversed position, means forming guideways for the assembly of said reversed member in the latter position, and an ironing board member removably mounted upon the upper ends of said supporting members in the latter position.

MARTIN E. SCOTT. JOSEPH BRADLEY. 

